Plans to set up a post office in a church hall in Market Bosworth have met with community support.

Around 100 people attended a public meeting in St Peter’s parish hall to consider proposals to use the venue as a base for a new town post office service.

Market Bosworth’s former post office closed last November when no-one came forward to take over the business, which had been run for nearly four decades by husband and wife Brian and Lynne Eveson.

A small letter box has since been put up in the market square but no counter service is available in the town.

Market Bosworth Parish Council chairman John Wasteney, parish councillors Grizelda Hargreaves and Heather Broughton, together with Canon David Jennings, assistant priest at St Peter’s Church, have been working to draw up plans for a replacement service based in the building on Park Street.

It would involve setting up a social enterprise company (Community Interest Company) to further the scheme.

Canon Jennings, who chaired the meeting, said: “There was general discussion concerning the proposal with no dissenting voices.

“There were particular questions concerning the use of volunteers and the need to ensure financial viability.

“There was also discussion concerning the possible response from Post Office Ltd to a proposal that did not fit easily into their models for post offices.

“However, it was felt that given Post Office Ltd’s stated wish for a post office in Market Bosworth, there should be room for negotiation and accommodation.

“It was noted by the meeting that the facility was used by surrounding villages and that in the absence of the same some business had transferred to other areas.”

Post office representatives have been called on to investigate the suitability of the building and cost implications.

In the meantime people who live and work in the town are being encouraged to sign forms in support of the proposal.

Canon Jennings said: “It was a most encouraging meeting with 100% support for our endeavours hitherto.

“We now need to move to the next stage of developing a business plan and further negotiations with Post Office Ltd.”